The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Psalm 28:1-9, “To Thee, O LORD, I call; My rock, do not be deaf to me, Lest, if Thou be silent to me, I become like those who go down

to the pit.

2 Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to Thee for help, When I lift up my hands toward Thy holy sanctuary.

3 Do not drag me away with the wicked And with those who work iniquity; Who speak peace with their neighbors, While evil is in their

hearts.

4 Requite them according to their work and according to the evil of their practices; Requite them according to the deeds of their hands;

Repay them their recompense.

5 Because they do not regard the works of the LORD nor the deeds of His hands, He will tear them down and not build them up.

6 Blessed be the LORD, Because He has heard the voice of my supplication.

7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I

shall thank Him.

8 The LORD is their strength, And He is a saving defense to His anointed.

9 Save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance; Be their shepherd also, and carry them forever.”

Were you ever in a situation that seemed utterly helpless? Wickedness surrounded you! Evil and depravity were everywhere! You were so encompassed about by debauchery that your only help lay in the Hands of the LORD? What do you do? You cry out with all your heart to the LORD for His rescue! You pray more earnestly than you’ve ever prayed for His deliverance.

Deliverance can be an extraction from the midst of an undesirable situation, or it can be an elimination of those persons who intend evil against us! The choice itself lies in the Hands of the Deliverer to whom we cry. We are so smothered by the intentions of those who are working against us to even consider a plausible way out. Of necessity, we yield everything to the LORD’s Divine Hands and beg desperately for mercy!

David himself is powerless. He cries for the LORD to give those who rail against His people the recompense they deserve! That is our

hope, as well. That must be our cry! When we think of ourselves as adequate to stand against evil, we have already lost the battle. Note, too, that David does not offer his own life as a pristine reason for the LORD to intervene. He admits his sin. We must also admit our sin and throw ourselves completely upon the LORD for His deliverance.

With all of the above being true, David simply declares victory! “The LORD is my strength and my shield,” he cries in verse seven. That is a clear and concise declaration of faith in the LORD! We simply cannot pray for the LORD’s deliverance and then wonder if-and- when it will come. We must BELIEVE and declare victory! We must rest in the assurance of that victory and praise the LORD for it!

“He is a saving defense to His anointed.” He is also our Shepherd, leading and teaching us to trust and obey Him.

Do you trust the LORD to extract you from seemingly insurmountable difficulties? If He is your LORD, you will trust Him. If He is not, you must trust Him today. There is no other way, and life’s time is running out. May He bless you and enable you to believe! You will be glad! I can promise you that.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Psalm 19:7-11, “The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

8 The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.

10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.

11 Moreover, by them Thy servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward.”

The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the nation. Whatever that court decides is correct, the people of our

nation are obliged to live by its directive. There is nowhere further to take a case that has been decided by the Supreme Court.

There is, however, a yet higher court than the Supreme Court. It is the Divine Court of Almighty God! It deals with human behavior.

The psalmist David uses six heavy, yet applicable words from the LORD to shape our human conduct.

1. The Law of God gives us direction and instruction as to how we are to live our lives. They are complete and perfect

and work to restore our souls as He had intended them to function from the beginning. Everything we need as a directive

is contained in Holy Scripture.

2. The Testimony of the LORD is supportive of both the admonition and confirmation of His Law. The open-minded

person is made wiser by adhering to them.

3. The Precepts of the LORD are His rules of action and conduct that direct our lives. They are both correct and safe to

follow. Besides all else, they bring joy into the life of those who adhere to them.

4. The Commandments of the LORD are His clear and clean orders that we are to implement into our own lives. They are pure and enlightening, easy to understand.

5. The Fear of the LORD relates to His awesomeness. One might willingly risk disobeying the Apostle Paul, but never

the LORD! His ways weigh heavily upon those who challenge His directives.

6. The Judgments of the LORD – His final judgments covering every situation — are always correct. That is, they are

incontrovertable! You might as well talk to the wind. The LORD does not alter or change His pronounced judgments!

But aren’t these directives difficult to follow? They may seem so at first; yet, doing right, living to His standards, brings inward peace

to our needy, spiritual lives. And when we obey His stated will, there is for us a promised reward – “more desirable than gold…and

sweeter than honey.” Still, beyond this, there is an even greater reward for those who follow our LORD’s directives.

What can be more celebrated than rules that bring rewards? Search the Scriptures to see! Live correctly and learn! Focus on His Life

and you will find living both pleasant and exciting! God bless you in your quest!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Psalm 19:1-6, “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.

2 Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge.

3 There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard.

4 Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their utterances to the end of the world. In them He has placed a tent for the sun,

5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber; It rejoices as a strong man to run his course.

6 Its rising is from one end of the heavens, And its circuit to the other end of them; And there is nothing hidden from its heat.”

There are many beautiful aspects of what we call nature; yet, none are more beautiful than what we behold in a clear, night sky. I once knew a man, whose hobby was scanning the sky with his telescope. Many glorious aspects of the heavenly bodies were

brought nearer to me through his courtesy in the use of it. Far-away stars were abundantly viewable, as were those mystical rings around Saturn. Most glorious, however, was the knowledge that each heavenly body was the handiwork of God and was placed there to speak to me of His glory!

Each heavenly body possesses a language of its own. Its speech exists in silent glory, as we learn to praise the Creator. The entire world thrills at their circumference, for within it lies the home of the sun. Our view of the sun is only when on its playground. At night, it sleeps, as it were, under a covering, until we view it again the following day. The sun bursts forth with rejoicing, just like a groom, who glowlinly exits the chamber that contains his bride!

Observation of creation and contemplation of our Creator merge to convince us that the LORD is a loving God! Why do we go to the extreme of decorating gifts for special occasions, when we know that the decoration will soon be cast aside? We do it because we love the one receiving the gift. Yet, God’s gift of love for us far exceeds that of the heavenly beauties He has placed above and around us.

So, the next time you view or think of the sun or moon or stars, stop and thank the LORD for giving you life. What’s more, ask Him to give you love for Him! For when we love Him, we will live for Him! And our lives will then become a “heavenly beacon” to show His way to others. Love Him and live for Him! Nothing glorifies Him more!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Psalm 11:1-7, “In the LORD I take refuge; How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain;

2 For, behold, the wicked bend the bow, They make ready their arrow upon the string, To shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.

3 If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?”

4 The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD’s throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.

5 The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked, And the one who loves violence His soul hates.

6 Upon the wicked He will rain snares; Fire and brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup.

7 For the LORD is righteous; He loves righteousness; The upright will behold His face.”

Are things in life ever so bleak that even those who love the LORD and seek to live righteously become discouraged?

The psalmist David believed it to be so. Those who would destroy the righteous are ostensibly equipped to do so. They

have the equipment for destruction and they appear ready to strike the heart of the righteous. It is precisely at this point

that the seriousness of the situation comes into view: “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

At this point, the focus is diverted from “the righteous person” to the very “foundations of righteousness.” Individuals can

be replaced; principles cannot. The current crisis that our nation faces is not centered on a personallity; it is centered on

the principle of Constitutional justice. Theologically, personal beliefs come and go; but the Scriptural principles that foundation

the nations of the world must not be subject to human tampering! Those principles are the teachings of Almighty God, and

they are foundational to all truth and justice.

As bleak as things sometime look, the LORD eternally resides in Heaven and He continually tests and beholds the

behavior of mankind. He adjudicates in His holiness the works of the humanity He created. And while He loves the

righteouos, He despises the wicked, especially perhaps, those who engage in violence.

The LORD is altogether righteous. What’s more, He loves righteousness. Therefore, we are assured of the survival of

the righteous in these words of Scripture: “The upright will behold His face.” They will not be destroyed. The bow and

arrows of wickedness are devoid of all power! The Foundation of God’s Truth will abide forever and give hope and life

to those who are His. Are you one of His? Have you trusted in the LORD Jesus Christ as your Savior? Are you living

daily for Him? Is the Holy Scripture your life foundation? If this is true of you, then you will one day be privileged to behold

Him face-to-face. What a glorious and unspeakable experience that day will be!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Psalm 4:1-8, “Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! Thou hast relieved me in my distress; Be gracious to me

and hear my prayer.

2 O sons of men, how long will my honor become a reproach? How long will you love what is worthless and aim at deception?

3 But know that the LORD has set apart the godly man for Himself; The LORD hears when I call to Him.

4 Tremble, and do not sin; Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And trust in the LORD.

6 Many are saying, “Who will show us any good?” Lift up the light of Thy countenance upon us, O LORD!

7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, More than when their grain and new wine abound.

8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For Thou alone, O LORD, dost make me to dwell in safety.

I’m certain that you’ve heard the expression, “Prayer works.” We all understand what that means to the person who says it;

however, it might be better said, “When prayer works, God works.” Moreover, when we pray more consistently, God pays

greater attention. That’s the spiritual equivalent of the saying “It’s the squeeky wheel that gets the grease.” Of course, it’s

the LORD’s right to determine what He does when we pray; yet He says He “has set apart the godly man for Himself.” I understand that to indicate which prayers truly arrest His attention.

Adverse circumstances always produce a modicum of uncertainty, yet we are advised to meditationally focus upon the LORD, and keep silent. For some of us, keeping silent is quite difficult. Silence in situations of trouble is equal to trust, when once we have prayed. We are to turn our uncertainties over to the LORD –and leave them there!

It was reported the other day that President Trump had asked all evangelical Christians to pray for him. Apparently, he was consulting with the Supreme Court on some Constitutional matters. Circumstances of such magnitude require the readiness of God’s people in prayer. There are many circumstances in life that require prayer. The question is whether we believers are truly ready for the task.

David expresses the peace he knows –peace that allows him to sleep soundly. It is the confidence that the LORD is in

control and stands instantly ready to protect and defend His own, whatever the adversity. Do you have that confidence in the LORD? Is He your first thought when adversity strikes? Are you “prayed up,” so to speak? Does the gladness the LORD provides, rest abundantly in your heart and life? Do you know that gladness and peace and safety of which David speaks? The adversities of circumstances in life cannot successfully stand against the LORD! He is our strength and shield. And when our lives rest thoroughly in Him, we then know and experience His divine peace.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom